Abstract: ObjectivesThis study was to understand the distribution of the elderly of Yunnan Province in order to provide scientific basis for the policy associating with senile health care.MethodsThe data of the fourth census in 1990 and sampling investigation of population in 1995 were used to obtain the elderly coefficient and long evity propor tion,and abridged life table was applied to work out expectation life.ResultsIn 1990,the elderly coeffcient was 7.7.The counties of population aging were economically advantaged relatively.The expectation life of the whole province was 60.4 years of age(58.3 for males and 61.3 for females).Hui people had the longest expectation life among the 26 ethnic groups of the province.The region with the longest expectation life had the lowest infant mortality.The proportion of the elderly at 100 years of age and over was 0.71/100000 in the province.Minor ities had higher proportions than Han people,with Dulong minority ranking the highest(72.21/100000).About 60% of the elderly at 100 years of age and over were lived in the border areas with higher percentages of forest cover.ConclusionExcept for Hui minority,Han people had the longerexpectation life than minor ities,however the elderly at the age of 100 and over were mainly distributed in the minority border areas with higher percentages of forest cover.These findings suggest that nature green food and the harmonious development between human being and nature are good for longevity.